Tropical Storm Chantal is approaching the Lesser Antilles. Radars from Barbados and Martinique indicate that at 7 a.m. CDT the center of Chantal was located near latitude 13.8 north, longitude 59.7 west. Chantal is moving toward the west-northwest near 26 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to affect portions of the Windward Islands this morning and reach Puerto Rico tonight or early Wednesday. Tropical storm conditions are

expected to reach the southeastern portion of the Dominican Republic by Wednesday morning.

Tropical storm conditions are possible in Haiti by late Wednesday On the forecast track, the center of Chantal will move through the Lesser Antilles this morning, move into the eastern Caribbean Sea this afternoon and evening and be near the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours. A reconnaissance air force plane is currently approaching chantal.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles mainly to the north of the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1010 mb...29.83 inches.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

Barbados

Dominica

St. Lucia

Martinique

Guadeloupe

Puerto Rico

Southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the border with Haiti